Spotlight

A love of science began for Todd Michael, PhD when his 7th grade teacher had him write a report on tree leaves. After collecting different leaves and looking up their tree type, he realized that although all of the trees were similar, they grew different types of leaves. He was certain there was a reason and was determined to figure it out.

Through the NIDDK-funded Genomics Scholars Program, JCVI has provided aspiring scientists wet lab, technical, and career training. Community college students from Montgomery College (Maryland) and MiraCosta College (California) have participated, with the next cohort joining us this summer.

The 1918 influenza pandemic, which affected 500 million people globally and caused 50-100 million deaths, was the most severe pandemic in recorded history. Over the course of the last 100 years, advances in science and medicine have provided the tools to address influenza much more successfully.

The biggest scientific breakthroughs developed at JCVI—including sequencing of the first genome, the first microbiome sequencing, and creating new synthetic life were funded outside the traditional grant system.